now. so this is worth watching closely. but this is ralph hall, republican congressman 91 years old. the oldest serving member of congress. he is facing a challenger mr. hall, served 17 terms. no other member of congress has been thrown out of his office this year in a primary. but tonight, at least, 28% in. he is running two points behind. that's within to watch. last polls close in texas about an hour ago. some closed two hours ago. some closed an hour ago. results are still coming in. we'll let you know more here on msnbc tonight as we learn it. now time for "the last word." thank you for joining us. >> six dead. 13 wounded. one of the victim's parents joins me tonight with a message for congress and the nra. do something. >> day of mourning. classes canceled, uc santa barbara today. >> the community continues to mourn the loss of six students killed in a shooting rampage friday. >> six people dead.

13 injured before the shooter took his own life. >> young man angered by rejection. >> 9:30 p.m. west coast time. >> stabbed, killed three people in his own apartment. >> two women shot and killed at a sorority. >> spree of terror stretched for blocks. >> final victim. >> shot and killed inside a delly. >> christopher michaels martinez. he was 20 years old. he was a sophomore english major who dreamed of going to law school and following in his parents' footsteps. >> our son christopher martinez and six others are dead. chris was a really great kid. ask anyone who knew him. his death has left our family lost and broken. why did chris die? chris died because of craven irresponsible politicians and the nra. they talk about gun rights.

what about chris' right to live? when will this insanity stop? when will enough people say, stop this madness, we don't have to live like this! too many have died. we should say to ourselves, not one more! >> not one more. richard martinez's plea after his son christopher and five college aged students were killed during a shooting rampage in the town of isla vista, california friday. joining me now tonight is richard martinez. first of all, richard, i want to say of course, i am story for the loss of your son, our thoughts and prayers are with you here, we appreciate you spending a little time with us

during a difficult period tonight. >> thank you, ari. >> why don't we start, if you would, tell us, about christopher. i see you have his picture there. i know you are going through a grieving process and you have also talked about activism. but first what would you look to -- you like us to know about your son? >> well, this picture was taken when he was in high school. and chris was an incredible kid. and i was -- surprised -- i don't know if you know anything about the memorial that just took place here. i understood it was primarily for the students here, and i was very surprised at how many of my friends and how many, well, they were chris' friends, and then they became my friend. because, chris played sports with all of these people. there was just, we had, there was a big turnout from our saint

luis obispo here today from kids that chris knew, played sports with and then their parents as well. and for karen and i, it meant a lot, because, there was one boy here that came today that was in preschool with christopher. they had been friends together all their lives. and -- that boy was here along with -- with his mother. so they're well aware of, what chris was like. and the memorial ceremony today, i, there was, i described chris. he was just an unusual combination of being nice, kind, but at the same time, he was extremely competitive. and i hadn't thought of this until recently, but we had a competition that was going -- between us. and i have recently started working out.

and the idea was that -- at some point we were going to arm wrestle. and, he was confident that he could beat me. i had been trying to lift some weights. he kept saying, when are we going to do it? i said a couple more months. of course i hadn't said that. i was just trying to delay the inevitable. he was competitive. >> go ahead. >> he was competitive. i mean, he, in academics. he played basketball in his freshman and sophomore years of high school. and then he had an opportunity to play varsity basketball. but that was going to require that he had to put a greater commitment of time than he had into the freshman and sophomore year basketball. what happened was, he was very competitive academically. he was friend with a lot of really smart kids. and he cam came to the realization on his own that he would rather spend his time studying to be competitive academically.

he loves basketball. but we didn't tell him don't play varsity basketball to concentrate on your studies. he did it. because he didn't want mitch and others to have better grades than he did. >> he was competitive. >> richard, you said earlier talking about the memorial tonight. some of his friend felt like they were your friends. some of the unity. we were keeping an eye on the memorial. people around the country were watching. i want to play one moment from that here. >> are you with me? >> yes! >> not one more. not one more! >> you could see the very large crowds there. this memorial partly of course, firstly remembering and honoring these people who were killed. but secondly doing what you began to do at the press conference a lot of people noticed yesterday.

tell me how you decided to go there and make this stand for what you say is a desperate need for better gun safety laws in this country. >> well i think you can tell from my careful view of that video that i was pretty emotional. i had just learned of my son's death. not very long before that. you know, i was extremely upset. but, what i want people to -- the statement that i read was prepared over the course of three or four hours. so, you know, sometimes, with opposition on these kinds of things. they say the ranting of a grieving father. well, it may have been a grieving father, but it was no rant. i think if you read what i said carefully, you will find that it was pretty well laid out. and that's because i didn't just slap it together. start going up there off the cuff.

the statement that i read was prepared over the course of several hours. and, not only that, it was prepared with the input of at least three people. as i was writing it, i was, passing it off to my brother and karen and jamie and kelly. so i mean, i was getting input from everybody. i, you know. >> richard, you talk about, your, your frustration with the nra and this issue and congress not acting. you mention you don't care much about whether you get phone calls from politician thousands which you want is action. have you heard anything from the white house, president obama, of course, spent a lot of time with victims from sandy hook. what would you want to say to the president or any of the politicians? >> don't call me until you do something. you know, i told, i had a congress person call me yesterday. i told him, i toned it down. i mentioned it today in the memorial, memorial service.

i told everybody that i had contact with a congress person. told them i wasn't interested. i have to tell you. i used much stronger language in that conversation than you heard here. you wouldn't, you wouldn't be able to put on the air what i told that person. and i, i said i aapproximately -- i apologize for using this language with you. this is what i feel. you are calling me and telling me you're sorry. what happened to my son. what have you done? i said, you call me up and you tell me you have done something. i would be happy to hear from you. i'll tell everybody that you, that, you know, whatever you want. but don't come to me, telling me that you are sorry, telling me that, i mean when, people that were in possession to do something come and tell me how sorry they are. as i see it, it's their fault. including the president. i don't care. my son died. it could have been prevented. we're americans. we are suppose to be a can do

country. it is inconceivable and unacceptable this has become a normalized condition in our society. it is outrageous. why has it taken this many people to die? kids to die? it's just, it's insane. the fact is you know we are at a point now where people just think, oh, seven killed. that's better than 30. that's just not acceptable. it's not acceptable. and you know what, i mean the kid in this case, had 400 round. in this particular instance it could have been, 400, 200, you know? this guy had capacity to do that. the fact that it is seven instead of 30, is just ignores the fact that of how dangerous the situation was. and i am really upset about -- well, obviously, if you look, right now, some of my upset is being masked by the fact that i

am very, very tired. if eye look at some interviews that are done earlier in the day. you will find i am much fiery, fire, i've got, you know, but right now i'm played out. >> i hear you. i mean, we watched some of the earlier statements and interviews. you are, however you are, like i said i appreciate you speaking with us. because you are coming from the place of being in the center of this tragedy. let me ask you when you stay you feel it could have been prevented. i can only imagine the pain of that when you are talking about a loss or a skilling here. what do you have specifically in mind? how could it have been prevented? well, ari, i have been living with the problem for a few days. i have to honestly say, prior to, my son being killed. i never gave it much, like everyone else. you know, that's in -- that

believes it can't happen to them. you know, i didn't do anything either. i didn't do anything to support the sandy hook people. now i am living with the consequences. if i had the capacity, to make a difference. if i had the capacity to make a difference now then -- you know why didn't i do it back then because my son would be alive. so i an not without guilt in this. but when you ask me about solutions, here's what i have learned to this point. and, you know. this is a complicated issue. there is a commonality. they involve mental health. typically all the incidents. all three of these problems. the three problems. three problems are, mental health issues, gun violence and violence against women.

those these problems are, almost always typically combined to get this result. and there are, you have to take each problem individually. and start to talk about solutions for each thing. and then try to, you know, coordinate the efforts. so, i am learning, as fast as i can, more about what, you know, but you know -- i mean where is the leadership on this. why, you know? we elect these people and we give them power, and -- you know, they just let this situation -- they can't even -- it's just -- it's just outrageous. i mean we have got a congress now that they bicker. they can't get together on a budget. they can't do anything. it is just childish. i mean, you know? these guys they go up there they have dinner with the lobbyists. eat in fancy restaurants. wear expensive suits.

what do we get for it? we get our kids killed. i mean, this problem can be solved. all it takes is leadership. been telling you reading a biography by walter isaacson, of steve jobs, founder of apple. people would come to him. read the book see what i mean. people would come, say we can't do this. can't meet the deadline. and design the product. jobs refused to accept that behavior. he said you fell me you can't do the deadline. i want-up to get it done. that's the deadline. figure out a way. they got it done. they did. they got it done. they had to work, 24/7, you know but you get smart people in a room you can solve these problems. i'm not -- how can people expect. i appreciate your asking that question and others have asked me the question. you know what ? my son died a few days ago. you expect me to have the answers to the questions.

there are people that have the answers. and you know, why isn't leadership rounding these people up. or if they don't have the answers. get the smartest people. jobs hired the smartest people he could find. he made them solve problems. because he was a leader. >> richard, that makes sense to me. part of what you are talking about is having the spirit of trying to do something rather than giving up. and i know you are not giving up. i know nothing is going to bring your son back. >> ari, i am not giving up the rest of my life. i owe it to my son. i had a terrific son. for me to live with this and honor his memory. i am not, i will, i will continue to go anywhere, talk to anybody, for as long as they want, willing to listen to me, about this problem. i am not going to shut up. there hasn't been much blow back from the other side. i anticipate. once my grieving period is over, the gloves will come off.

i don't think it is going to easy. they're going to fry how to do to me the same thing they have done to all the people. i have a message for them. my son is dead. and there is nothing you could do to me that is worse than that. >> richard martinez. >> i'm not going to stop. short of killing me. and you know that could happen. these people some of them are crazy. >> i understand that. and i understand some of what you are going through. some of i can't claim to understand. thank you for talking to us tonight. and, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. thank you. >> all right. >> coming up. we are going to talk more about the issue of crystal ball, and john feinblatt will join me, what can be done. policy, use and respond to the interview. please stay with us. capital to make it happen? without the thinking that makes it real? what's a vision without the expertise to execute it...

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coming up, the majority of americans do want more sensible gun laws. congress won't act. we'll explore why. that is next.

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>> welcome back. we are learn morgue about the guns used in friday's massacre. they recovered three handguns and 400 round of ammunition from the suspect's car. guns were all registered under the suspect's name according to police and were purchased in three different california cities. the brady campaign ranks california also as one of the toughest states in the country when it comes to gun regulations. what does it really mean in a country that has more gun deaths than any other developmented nation. joining me now is crystal ball, co-host of "the cycle" and the president of every town for gun safety and mayors against illegal guns.

crystal, we'll go right to you. let me play part of it now. >> my son is dead, and there is nothing that you can do to me that is worse than that. >> richard martinez, what were your thoughts on what he said tonight? >> my heart obviously goes out to him. i can only imagine what he is going through. and yet through that pain he is finding the courage to speak out. in his words. you know he described himself as essentially an average citizen. after sandy hook he didn't do anything to support the grieving parents there. it had to happen to him before he realized that action had to be taken. my take away from the interview. do we have to wait for this to happen to so many people. how many gun death do's we have to have before we have political will to do something. as an average citizen and average level of political engagement, he indicted our

political system. he nailed it. they're out there having dinners with lobbyists and doing nothing for average american. that is really the central point here. because as you pointed out. most americans want to see sensible gun regulations. the support for background checks was over 90%. and yet nothing happens because the only voices that matter in washington are the special interests and the nra. i think what was so striking about this beside the grief which was unimaginable. i have an 8 and 11-year-old daughters. couldn't imagine this. what was so, came through was, how sensible what he was asking for was. what he basically said is, we have got to send a message to congress. we have got to send a message to our senators and our congressmen and governors and say, a very simple thing -- "not one more." and he knows that the gun lobby has a hammer lock on our elected officials.

we have to break that hammer lock. and if you go down, go to everytown.org right now. we will make sure mr. martinez's word get to your senator. you can go right on to our website, fill out your name, and your zip code, and we will make sure that mr. martinez's words reach every congressman, every senator, and every governor. >> the mobilization question there is, every time you have one of these horrific, murders, or mass murders, does it spur anything? senator richard bloomenthol spoke out. let's take a listen to that. >> i am going to urge that we bring back those bills, maybe reconfigure them to center on mental health. we need more resources to make the country healthier and to make sure that these kind of horrific, insane, mad occurrences are stopped. and the congress -- will be

complicit ill we fail to act. >> congress, you could say was complicit. and yet the, the background check proposal got a majority of votes in the senate as did one to make a tougher penalties on gun traffickers. that was after sandy hook. it took sandy hook. there was a majority. what there wasn't was an ability to break a filibuster. republicans, democrats a problem here as well. to get an up and down vote. >> 54 members of the senate voted for the background check bill. and yet because of our insane rules in the senate that means that it fails. i think what senator bloomenthol is doing there, very smart. let's repackage this. let's try again. let's focus on mental health. one of the things that the opposition will always throw up when they're trying to avoid having a debate about gun control that's we have got to look at mental health. yes we, do have to look at mental health. that is absolutely true. but that is not an excuse for inaction.

so i think by focusing on that piece, that may be, puts another spin on it. allows us to get back into a real conversation at the national level about -- legislation. one last point i want to make on, the interview itself that. i think is really important. is you are already hearing folks on the right saying, what, what, what -- that father said, richard was saying. that, that, these are not the ravings of a grieving parent. he thought out what he wanted to say. it was well planned out. it was well articulated. it was thoughtful. it was not just coming from a place of emotion. >> it is important. yes, congress failed to pass the bill. there is action. look at colorado, connecticut, delaware, maryland. they're passing background check bills. the gun lobby in a day or two will say laws don't matter. best thing to do is arm people. we know the opposite. 16 states for instance have passed comprehensive background bills.

there are 38%, death by gun of intimate partners, 49% fewer suicide by guns. 39%, fewer cops are killed with guns. laws actually work. a nation of laws. the nra will tell you in a few days laws don't work. >> we have countries that have fewer weapons and deaths as well. there is no country that lacks like ours. >> crystal, john. thank you for joining me for an important topping tonight. coming up, how one town is handling the danger of fracking in their backyard. the director of gas land will be here. and talk to the leader of the north carolina morals monday movement, reverend barber. stay with us.

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>> in the spotlight tonight when it comes to fracking. it's not what goes in, but what comes out that may do the most damage. we have a new report here from our partners. i just happen to have a class of halliburton clean stem green frack fluid. i would look to mix a cocktail tonight. >> there have been notable escapades in the public where people from the oil gas industry and people from the government of colorado has consumed fracking fluid with no delaitrous effects. >> let's test to one of the greatest technology advancements of all times.

so please join men a toast off to the freedom that all of you in hydraulic fracking thing to america. >> would you drink fracking fluid? >> sure. >> if you want item by item in terms of what the components are, then i would take a drink. >> the point of seeing executive and politicians drinking fracking fluid was deception, an attempt to convince the public there is no harm from the process of hydraulically fracturing a shale gas or shale oil well. it is deceptive in the sense that it is the least of the problems. what goes down the well, is not nearly as important as what comes up the well. so the principle constituents of flow back from shale gas consist of salts and naturally occurring radioactive materials stored underground hundred of millions of years, brought to the surface in the human environment.

we have experienced the recession that everybody else did in the influx of the gas workers and the lease money and production money really propped up our local economy, businesses, hotels, restaurants. right over the hill, a nice guy who taught his whole life. hard working guy. has 200 acres. his kids are probably not going to have to worry about money. i don't think the american dream was pennies from heaven. i don't regret some families in pennsylvania have been enriched by the shale development. what i would lack to see on the part of policy its the net effect on society.

>> fracking went on here, has had no impact on this and they are keeping a close eye on it. probably, 15 plus wells line the tops of the hills. i know last year, it was retested. and tested, a native trout stream. this is flow back water. out of the well head. after a hydraulic fracturing process. >> in some cases they put 15 million gallons into a well and you can expect in some cases, 40% of that to come back out. >> we can say the radium in this vile is thousand of time over the legal drinking water standard based on epa limits. >> i would dare them in public to drink flow back. it would be, public vomiting. >> joining me now is josh fox, director and producer of the documentary "gas land." welcome.

>> would you drink flow back? >> absolutely not. >> josh, the follow-up question. why not? >> well, obviously that contains all the fracking chemicals used on the site. as professor tony angrafia points out, from cornell, this man should be a nationally known figure for how much whistle blowing he has done. used to work for the industry. to talk about radioactivity. radioactive material has been found in the pittsburgh drinking water supply as a result of trying to process flow back inadequately through their water treatment systems. the thing this report, shocking in terms of radon and radium doesn't point out. the gas itself contains radon. that gas would be conceivably coming into new york city. into buildings which are now converting to natural gas, creating a hazardous problem with the, perhaps, lung cancer. radon --

>> you see in the report. the reference to radium, saying this is terrible stuff. in another context you wouldn't allow under epa rules. why is it allowed here? >> well, the -- that is a difficult question to answer. the situation with regulation, with respect to state, federal regulations for this industry is abysmal. no one is minding the store. no one looking into this. >> because it is new? >> i think it is because of many, many years of watching that whole regulatory system collapse. in terms of hydraulic fracturing, those fracking fluids themselves they're except from the safe drinking, well, disclosure of fracking fluids which should be required. required by any corner dry cleaner not required for the industry in the state of pennsylvania or around the united states. in fact we don't have a law. they became exempt from safe drinking water act. under 2005, bush cheney. that persists. these companies do not have to report what they're injecting into the ground.

in many cases they don't have to actually tell us what is being transported. where it is disposed of. i was on a trip. workers in the gas industry quit. every hill top there was a frack flow back pond. that was draining down those hill sides. and those people who are avowed hunters if you know anything about pa, they said we are never hunting in this area again. not going to work for this industry. by the way, workers, currently are dying at 7 or 8 time the national average working for the oil and gas industry. than any other sector. >> right. you see. one form of pressure on some of the science, here which is contested. a lot of companies say they're blamed for medical problems that are in existence. but in texas, a $2.9 million award. basically, finding for a family that argued fracking caused illnesses including vision problems, nausea, migraines. now that is a jury's view of it. how does that play in here if the feds are asleep at the wheel.

does that create some pressure and potentially some more scrutiny if this stuff is harmful. >> what you are seeing here. citizen outcry. that, par family case is unbelievable. the pars are in gas land. lisa par had fracking chemicals in her lungs from being surrounded by 21 wells around her property. there are, you know, 15 million americans right now. that live within one mile of a fracking well. the issue is so hot. this, drilling industry expanded through out america. people don't want to live near this. unsafe to live near this. an outcry of citizens. the question is how is the government actually going to react. and they are asleep at the wheel right now. >> right. we didn't have time to got to the mayor, you found, moved out of his own town. from the fracking. josh fox, thank you for being here. >> thank you for having me. >> next, moral monday protests are back and republicans are doing everything they can to make it more difficult on the protesters including passing a controversial new rule, reverend william barber joins me next. i'm sinora and this is my son, chris.

i'm a messy person. i don't like cleaning. i love my son, but he never cleans up. always leaves a trail of crumbs behind. you're going to have a problem with getting a wife. uh, yeah, i guess. [ laughs ] this is ridiculous. christopher glenn! [ doorbell rings ] what is that? swiffer sweep & trap. i think i can use this. it picks up everything. i like this. that's a lot of dirt. it's that easy! good job chris! i think a woman will probably come your way. [ both laugh ]

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it's just sitting there. that is pretty wild. the tornado turned away from them. bud but did damage and injured one person. the men who took the video apologized for swearing a lot on it. now, coming up. republicans are trying to defund a nutrition program for children supported by first lady michelle obama. her reaction is coming up.

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blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira, your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. make the most of every moment. ask your dermatologist about humira, today. clearer skin is possible. we come today to make a stand to let her know that we are not backing down. legislation needs to be changed. >> refusing to stay silent today, more protesters from the moral monday movement marched to the offices of north carolina house speaker tom tillis,

running for the u.s. senate in the mid terms. we can report tonight that this very hour, sitting protesters are being arrested to remove them. organizers delayed protests to today. they have traditionally been held on monday. since april of last year. out of respect, however, for the memorial day holiday. they were held today. the effort included visits to state offices, and the gop legislator to back down on its crack done on access. president obama's medicaid extension and to extend unemployment benefits. that is not all. while the protests have not forced the republican legislature into withdrawing those recent bills and moves, these are certainly having another impact on republican lawmakers. during this month's legislative assembly session, a committee pass aid new rule to muzzle some of the moral monday any most visible types of protests their gatherings at the legislative chamber.

now here is how nbc's station, wncn reported the vote. quote, new general assembly rules would limit moral monday protests. the new title rules restrict visitors for creating disturbances, singing, clapping or shouting. north carolina republicans we mention argue the change was not directed at moral monday protesters. the rules hadn't been altered in 25 years. they were only changed days before the highly covered moral monday protests were set to resume. now, protesters say this whole new crackdown, just like the republicans crackdown on ballot access is an attempt to distort democracy and reshape the north carolina electorate. that could drive a backlash that could backfire on the gop come november. joining me now is one of the leaders of the moral monday's movement, reverend william barr ber, president of the north carolina state conference of the naacp. good evening, reverend.

>> good evening. how are you today? >> doing fine. keeping an eye down there as i mentioned. we can report tonight that some protesters are being removed or arrested. tell us what happened today and tom tillis, responded to what you are doing? >> more than 500 people came today to do lobbying. 15. four clergy. 11 workers. minimum wage workers. one retired teacher went tine -- in to sit in. we did a teach-in while we were waiting for the sit-in. article 11, section 4 of the constitution of north carolina says, provision for the poor, the unfortunate, and the orphan is the first duty of a civilized christian state. therefore the general assembly shall provide for and define the duty board of public welfare. one of our professors, one of our attorneys taught about that tonight.

this extreme, we don't call it republican. because, the things they are fighting against. republicans, have actually supported. they have denied, medicaid expansion, to 500,000 people. a young lady arrested tonight with cervical cancer eligible. they didn't support earned income tax credit. george herbert walker bush supported tax credit. they denied unemployment. they have denied teachers their tenure. in court. judges ruling against them. denied voting rights. this is extremist. in the history of republicanism and democrats, people have supported it. this is extremism at the core. they're running the most extreme state government in the country right now. >> reverend, when we look at some of the state polling. we see only about 28% of north carolinians do support this

assembly. that's dropped a little bit do. you think the view that this is an extreme legislature is actually spreading? >> not only spreading. the government came out, one poll, 50%. one poll 30%. one poll had the legislature under 19%. and 54% to 56% of north carolinians, for instance, support medicaid expansion. when tom tillis and others say they're doing the will of the people that is not true. the fact of the matter is, they have sworn on the bible to uphold the constitution. to work for the good of the whole. to be care fall but the first duty which is to care for the poor. they are violating that. it is very extreme. i thinks i eisenhower said any potter that would attack labor laws, social security, and unemployment, and things like farm subsidies would not long be a political party in this country.

well we have finally found a political party. they go under the name of republican, but they're actually extremists who are willing to do just like that. attack unemployment. attack earned income tax credit. attack the working poor. attack the sick. and attack teachers and public education. and attack voting rights. after they finer doing that. then they say, let's give people more guns. >> well, i think -- i think you nailed it right there. reverend barber, you have been working, organizing long hours. appreciate you joining us. >> thank you. >> our prayers go to the father in california and others as well. god bless you. >> ours as well. thank you. >> the first lady is fighting ba against a gop led plan to let schools get out of federal standard for school lunches. [ male announcer ] if you're taking multiple medications, does your mouth often feel dry? a dry mouth can be a side effect of many medications but it can also lead to tooth decay and bad breath.

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some news you might not have heard about. the oldest ever member of the u.s. house of representatives lost his primary race tonight.

91-year-old texas republican congressman, ralph hall lost in a run-off to little known challenger. the first run yuf he faced. there is no democrat rung in the race. maybe there will be. up next the first lady, versus house republicans. ugh. heartburn. did someone say burn? try alka seltzer reliefchews. they work just as fast and taste better than tums smoothies assorted fruit. mmm. amazing. yeah, i get that a lot. alka seltzer heartburn reliefchews. enjoy the relief.

[ girl ] my mom, she makes underwater fans that are powered by the moon. ♪ she can print amazing things, right from her computer. [ whirring ] [ train whistle blows ] she makes trains that are friends with trees. ♪ my mom works at ge. ♪ >> because of you and your colleagues across the country today, tens of millions of are childrening eating meals, that meet modern nutrition standards. unfortunately, despite these

successes, we're now seeing efforts in congress to roll back these new standards. this is unacceptable. it's unacceptable to me not just as first lady, but as a mother. transforming the health of a generation. is no small task. but we have to be willing to fight the hard fight now. >> that was first lady michelle obama today taking on house republicans over their attempt to roll back parts of the school lunch programs, nutrition rules. which republican lawmaker wants to curb the federal standard. this guy, congressman, of alabama, a member of the house appropriations committee and attached language to a spending bill that would grant a temporary one-year waiver to school districts if unable to comply. now today the first lady made it clear she is ready to fight. even if taking on congress. school directors melt at the was to discuss the success of nutrition standard.

introduced in 2010. a little refresher. increasing the number of fruits and vegetables, limiting sodium served in meals & effort to combat childhood obese team. while opponents try to argue it is too expensive, ineffective or difficult. the first lady is unmoved. >> in 10, 20 years, i don't want to look back with regret and think that we gave up on our kids because we felt like this thing was into hard or too expensive. we owe our kids way more than that. joining me now, executive director of lets move, and senior policy adviser on nutrition, sam cass, a good, healthy evening to you. >> how are you? >> i'm good. let's start with the core of the dispute here between michelle obama and some house republicans. what is critical about having these standard? what would be wrong with letting some district maybe waive them?

>> well, what we are seeing right now is an attempt for politics and politicians to really override our, our scientists, nutritionists to set standards about what our kids should be eating in school. we know we need to put our kids first. we have seen this before. not so long ago, congress stepped in. along with industry interests to determine pizza should be a vegetable in our school lunch program. parents everywhere know that is ridiculous. what we are seeing is an attempt to wind back the standards. and not putting what's best for health and well being at the forefront. >> sam, i wish pizza was a vegetable. >> yeah, you know. wishful thinking. that's just not the case. >> politicians and politics here. this is politics do. you think it is a coincidence here, house republicans have zeroed in on an obscure part of nutrition standards happens to be the first lady's primary domestic policy priority?

>> you know, it is just hard to believe that things like child nutrition are going to get pulled down into partisan politics. this is something that is bigger than -- than, than the -- this is about the future of our country. we have one third of our youngest kids on track to have diabetes in their lifetime. and weep must do everything we can to ensure that our kids are getting all of the nourishment we need. we have seen the first declines in obesity rates between 2 and 5-year-olds for in ever. and the kids are about to center our schools. what our schools are doing is critical. we are making progress. have to make sure we don't turn back now. >> yeah, a lot of that goes back to, you say, the part that is not politic thousands, everyone can relate to what you put in your body. everyone has to eat. jamie oliver, british chef, did a demonstration. remember, got attention. school lunches what is in them. he poured it all in with garbage

pales. what was striking about that everyone in the audience, no matter what nay looked like, kids, parents, all had the same reaction which was gross. >> yeah. here's what i know. you know we had directors in from across the country to meet with the first lady. from new york, l.a., virginia, alabama. school nutrition directors are heroes. they're doing incredible work every day to feed our kids great food. fact of the matter since standard were put in we have seen increase in fruit, vegetable, whole gain consumption. next year the standards, no junk food in the vending machines and ala carte lines. will come into effect. making huge strides. the last thing to allow happen. undo this. it is okay to have junk food in our schools for kids. kids don't need fruit, vegetable as the part of our meals. we are making huge progress, but right now that is all in jeopardy.

>> i hear you, sam kass. you get tonight's last word. thanks for joining us. >> thank you so much for having me. >> and i'm ari melber in for lawrence o'donnell. thanks so much for watching. karl the snarl. let's play "hardball." good evening. i'm chris mathews in washington. let me start tonight with this direct new attack on hillary clinton. this guy just went on tv yesterday and called her old and stale, that she looks like yesterday. who would do such a thing? let me give you a clue. he said it on fox. his name is karl rove. and he does this for a living. first he attacked the former first lady, senator from new york and recent secretary of state for having health issues, suffering from even now enduring, quote, brain injuries. as of yesterday he's keel hawing her for being too old, too stale, too yesterday.